The Crookston School Board met Monday evening in the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room with new Superintendent Randy Bergquist overseeing his first meeting.
LONG-TERM FACILITIES MAINTENANCE 10-YEAR PLAN
The board approved the district’s Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) 10-year plan, which is required to be approved by the school board in July by the State of Minnesota. Crookston currently has $1.3 million in the LTFM account, which can only be used for certain things. “We allocate certain monies to different projects. For example, we can allocate money if a roof collapses in January because of heavy snow. It can be tuckpointing and anything else with the facilities and building itself,” said Superintendent Randy Bergquist. “Some might say, why don’t you use that for the new multi-use athletic complex? Well, you can’t. It can’t be for anything brand new.”
CROOKSTON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (TEACHERS UNION) CONTRACT
The board approved a two-year contract with the Crookston Education Association (CEA). The CEA is the district teachers union, and they will get a pay raise of 3.75 percent in the 2023-24 school year and a four percent raise in the 2024-25 school year. There will be no changes to the insurance. “They all worked together to come up with a fair contract, and I would guess most school districts haven’t finalized with their teachers yet,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “I think it is a great opportunity to show that we are all in this together, we want to educate our kids and make them the best students we possibly can working together, and it is before the start of the school year, and that is great.”
CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR THE MULTIUSE COMPLEX FACILITY
The board approved hiring Gehrtz Construction Services out of Fargo, North Dakota, as the Multiuse Athletic Complex Construction Manager. Six companies bid on the job, and the district interviewed three before selecting Gehrtz. The amount Gehrtz will be paid depends on the bid that will be let in September. “Gerhrtz had more experience working with schools than the other companies,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “One thing I want to make sure they make sure contractors and businesses in Crookston have an opportunity to bid on the project going on.”
DONATIONS
The board approved $17,350 in donations. The Crookston Pirate Boosters donated $3,500 for a VIBE board for the Boys Hockey team. The Pirate Boosters donated $4,350 to the Pirate Athletic Department for half the cost of the Hudl subscription for Volleyball, Football, Boys, and Girls Soccer, Boys and Girls Basketball, and Boys and Girls Hockey. The Fraternal Order of the Eagles donated $2,500 to the FFA program, and the Eagles Charity donated $500 to the FFA program. The last donation was $6,500 from the Pirate Boosters for half the cost of a trailer to be used for the athletic programs. “Crookston is a very supportive community,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “Not only for extracurricular sports, but the fine arts too. It is a credit to this community for how much support they give to the school. That is awesome.”
CONSENT AGENDA
The board approved the resignation of Jessica Holzer as Administrative Assistant at the high school and the resignation of Heidi Achartz as a music instructor at Highland School.
The board approved the employment of Toni Gullekson as a special ed instructor at Highland School; Marianne Isaacs, Melinda Larson, Timothy Sanchez, Mandie Stoe, and Katie Scott as special ed paraprofessionals.
The board approved student handbooks for each school for the 2023-24 school year and the staff handbook at Highland School.
The board approved the official financial institution designations with the Payroll Account at United Valley Bank, the Financial Account at Bremer Bank, and the Lock Box Account (direct wire of State funds) at Bremer Bank.
The board designated Superintendent Randal Bergquist and Business Manager Laura Lyczewski as the district’s investment authority. Bergquist and Lyczewski were also named the designated personnel to lease, purchase, and contract for budgeted goods and services for the district.
The board designated School Board Chair Frank Fee, School Board Clerk Mike Theis, School Board Treasurer Tim Dufault, Superintendent Randal Bergquist, and Business Manager Laura Lyczewski as the official signatories.
The next school board meeting will be on Monday, August 28, at 5:00 p.m.
